Effects of cooling cornea by Low-Temperature Saline Washing on postoperative pain in Photorefractive Keratectomy

Abstract

Several studies have reported that cooling cornea has effects on alleviating pain post Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). However, our random prospective self-control study using 52 eyes of 26 myopic patients revealed that there was no significant statistical difference (P > 0.74) in the postoperative pains at both day-1 and day-3 between the experimental eye group (26 myopic eyes, treated with chilled lactated Ringer's saline of 4°C) and the control eye group (26 self control eyes, treated with lactated Ringer's saline of ˜20°C). The result suggests that applying low-temperature balanced saline solution onto corneal surfaces is not an effective analgesia for PRK surgery.